Neco 2019 Biology Question 10

A bacterial culture is monitored during its growth. The initial population at time \(t = 0\) h is \(N_0 = 5 \times 10^{2}\) cells. The culture shows a lag phase for the first 2 h, after which it enters exponential growth. At \(t = 2\) h the population is \(N_2 = 2 \times 10^{3}\) cells and at \(t = 6\) h it is \(N_6 = 1.28 \times 10^{5}\) cells. Assuming exponential growth follows \(N(t) = N_2 \; e^{\mu (t-2)}\) during the exponential phase, (i) calculate the specific growth rate \(\mu\) (h\(^{-1}\)), and (ii) determine the generation time \(g\) (in minutes) using \(g = \dfrac{\ln 2}{\mu}\). Give \(\mu\) to three decimal places and \(g\) to the nearest minute.